Record-breaking losses of $2.25bn in just 92 days- NSW now losing over $1 million to poker machines every hour

The people of NSW are experiencing shocking levels of gambling harm, now losing an average of over $1 million to the state’s poker machines every single hour, or just over $24 million a day. This while the government considers the recommendations recently handed to it by the Executive of the NSW Independent Panel on Gambling Reform.

Data released by the NSW Department of Liquor and Gaming has revealed that in total, $2.25 billion was lost to NSW’s 87,000 poker machines in the 92 days from July-September 2024.

Meanwhile, the State’s hotels continue to grow their share of pokies profits, reporting more than $1billion in poker machine losses for the first time in a single quarter. Hotels accounted for 44.8% of the total losses despite operating only 25.6% of all poker machines active in NSW.

These record figures highlight the growing impact of gambling harm on individuals, families and communities across the State at a time when cost of living pressures remain top of mind for most. Once again, the greatest impact is being felt in some of the state’s most disadvantaged areas. The poorer the postcode, the heavier the concentration of poker machines and the larger the losses.

Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, is reiterating his call for urgent reforms to address the escalating social and financial harm caused by poker machines.

“These record-breaking figures are a stark reminder of the devastating impact poker machines have on communities. It is unacceptable that losses in hotels alone have surged past $1 billion in just three months. This is not entertainment.  It is callous exploitation, pure and simple – wealthy pub barons and   so-called ‘community’ clubs whose harmful business models results in the syphoning of billions of dollars from those that can least afford it.”

Rev Cameron says the best Christmas present the government can give the people of New South Wales is to commit to real and practical reform now. 

“We urgently need a mandatory cashless card system, with robust harm minimisation measures built in, to protect people from gambling-related harm, eliminate money laundering and provide better tools to empower people to manage their spending. Additionally, powering down poker machines between midnight and 10am would have an immediate impact, giving people much-needed respite and reducing the gambling harm during this recognised high-risk period.”

Wesley Mission’s 4^th Community Attitudes to Gambling Reform survey of 1000 NSW residents in October 2024 indicated 82% support for powering down poker machines between midnight and 10am, with 72% of people saying they have no reservations about the introduction of a mandatory cashless gambling card.

“The message to the NSW government, and the NSW opposition, is clear. The community has quite simply had a gutful of gambling.”